Why Nigerian Children Born After 2010 Are Different (PARENTS BEWARE)

Have you noticed something strange about these small children wey dey grow up now? The ones born from 2010 upwards… chai! They are not like us at all. When I was small, if my mama call my name three times, I don already dey run before she finish the third call. But these children born after 2010? They will look at you, blink twice, and ask “why?” Even when you want to flog them, they will negotiate first.

I’m not joking o. Last week, my neighbor’s 8-year-old daughter told her mother, “Mummy, instead of shouting, can we have a conversation about this?” Can you imagine? At 8 years old, she wants to have “conversation” with her mother. When I was 8, the only conversation I knew was “yes ma” and “sorry ma.” These children are built different, and as parents, we need to understand what we’re dealing with.

The Tablet Generation That Knows No Fear

These children came into this world when technology don already scatter everywhere. While we were still learning how to use iPhone, they were born swiping screens like pros. By age 3, they can navigate YouTube better than their grandparents can find their spectacles. They don’t fear anything because Google dey answer all their questions, and YouTube don already teach them everything from how to tie shoelaces to why the sky is blue.

The problem is that unlimited access to information has made them question everything… including authority. They want to know the “why” behind every instruction. When you tell them to greet visitors, they ask why they must greet people they don’t know. When you say “because I said so,” they look at you like you’re speaking Igbo to a Yoruba person. These children need reasons, not just commands.

Smart Mouth, Tender Heart

Don’t let their sharp mouth deceive you. Yes, they can argue with you about why bedtime at 8pm is “not fair,” but these same children are more emotionally aware than we ever were at their age. They understand feelings, they can spot when adults are stressed, and they genuinely want to help solve problems. The 10-year-old that will question your rules is the same child that will hug you when you’re sad and ask if you want to talk about it.

What’s happening is that they’re growing up in a world where mental health conversations are normal, where expressing emotions is not seen as weakness. Unlike our generation where we learned to bottle up feelings and “be strong,” these children are learning emotional intelligence from cartoon characters and YouTube videos. They cry when they’re hurt, they say sorry when they mess up, and they actually mean it.

The Challenge and The Blessing

As Nigerian parents, we’re stuck in the middle. We want to raise respectful children who honor their elders, but we’re dealing with children who were born into a different world entirely. They’ve never known life without smartphones, social media, and instant everything. While we learned patience by waiting for our favorite TV show to come on at 6pm, they can’t understand why they should wait for anything.

But here’s the thing… these children are not disrespectful, they’re just different. They need us to adjust our parenting style without losing our values. Instead of “because I said so,” try “let me explain why this is important.” Instead of expecting blind obedience, teach them to respect authority while still thinking for themselves. It’s more work, yes, but the results are beautiful.

What This Means for Us

The truth is, these children born after 2010 are preparing for a world we can’t even imagine yet. They need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and emotionally intelligent human beings. Our job is not to break their spirit or make them exactly like us, but to guide their energy in the right direction.

Teach them respect, but also teach them to respect themselves. Show them how to honor their elders while still having their own voice. Help them understand that some rules exist for their protection, not just to frustrate them. Most importantly, remember that a child who questions things now is more likely to make good decisions when they’re older.

So when next your 12-year-old asks you “but why can’t I go to my friend’s house?” instead of getting angry, take a deep breath. Explain your concerns about safety, discuss the importance of family time, or simply tell them the truth about why you’re worried. These children are different, and that’s exactly what the world needs them to be.